Baby Emma is a 3 month old Chihuahua with a severe facial deformity. Although Emma requires round the clock care and has extensive medical bills her owner refuses to give up on her.
Oklahoma City, OK (PRWEB) September 24, 2008 — When Emma was 3.4 ounces and 20 hours old, Dena Lamkin adopted her from an ad on craigslist. Emma’s face was deformed and her severe genetic oral deformities would not allow her to nurse.
Emma must be fed every two hours ’round the clock using a tube that goes directly into her stomach, bypassing the palate to avoid the cleft.
“She cannot eat food normally,” said Emma’s surgeon, Dr. Ellen Domnick. “Anything that she would eat would go through into her airway and possibly into her lungs, obviously creating some pneumonia.”
The vets diagnosed Emma with a cleft palate, cleft lip and severe facial deformities. Emma survived four surgeries within the first week of her life in an attempt to help her function normally. All provided insufficient results. Emma faces at least another two surgeries in the next several weeks as well as long term orthodontic care.
Dr. Tina Neel of Neel Veterinary Hospital, Oklahoma City, OK has offered to donate part of Emma’s treatment, yet Emma’s total expenses are already into the thousands.
Strangers send Emma encouragement. She even has some fellow Chihuahua’s on her side. Dena says that people began sending Emma gifts and asking to help pay for her surgeries. “The outpouring of love and devotion to this one tiny girl has been just awesome! From her doctors to people we’ve never even met. She really has touched so many hearts all across the world!”
To help raise money for Emma’s care a raffle is being held, there are some really great prizes to win. Act quick, the auction closes on October 26th at 11:59 PM EST.
